Ashes: ICC fines Darren Lehmann for Broad cheating comments

The ICC has fined Australia coach Darren Lehmann 20 percent of his match fee for calling Stuart Broad a cheat. Lehmann told an Australian radio station that Broad’s refusal to walk in the first Test when he knew he had nicked it to first slip was “blatant cheating” and called on Aussie fans to make Broad cry when England tour later this year.

"I hope the Australian public give it to him this [Australian] summer and I hope he cries and goes home,” Lehmann said.

Darren Lehmann did not hold back when it came to criticising Stuart Broad. Getty Imagies

According to an ICC statement, Lehmann was found to have “breached Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an International Match or any Player, Player Support Personnel, Match official or team participating in any International Match.”

Lehmann pleaded guilty to the charges on Thursday evening and accepted the fine. The charge was brought by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson.

“Whilst noting the context and nature of the comments made, showing mutual respect for one’s fellow professionals - including for coaches, players and match officials - is a cornerstone of how we play the game,” Richardson said in the statement.

Lehmann had replaced Mickey Arthur as coach 16 days before the start of the Ashes after a series of disastrous results for Australia on and off the field. However, it did not keep England from retaining the Ashes. They won three of the first four Tests to retain the urn.

Lehmann’s comments about Broad were made the day before the start of final Test at The Oval.